Tuesday
August 20
THE DRAGON PROMOTES BLASPHEMY (Rev. 13:1-10).
The first beast of Revelation 13 represents an earthly power that is
motivated, controlled, and directed by Satan, the dragon. "And to it
the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority" (Rev.
13:2, RSV).
What is involved in the sin of blasphemy of which this power is
guilty? Rev. 13:1, 5, 6; John 10:33; Luke 5:21.
Jesus was accused of blasphemy because He claimed to be Deity
(John 10:33). Paul spoke of the rise of a "man of sin" some time after
Christ's death (2 Thess. 2:3, 4). This blasphemous power would op-
pose and exalt itself "above all that is called God, or that is wor-
shipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God" (verse 4). This power will not be destroyed
until the coming of Jesus (verse 8).
The first beast of Revelation 13 represents the same power of
which Paul wrote. It "was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two
months" (Rev. 13:5, RSV), 1260 days, or years (A.D. 538-1798)—the
same period during which the little horn of Daniel 7 would rule (Dan.
7:25).
The medieval state church claimed for its human head the position
and prerogatives of Christ. These claims have been promoted in mod-
ern times. Pope Leo XIII wrote: "But the supreme teacher in the
Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds, therefore, requires,
together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete submission
and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, as to
God Himself."—Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, "On the Chief
Duties of Christians as Citizens," Jan. 10, 1890, quoted in
SDA Bible
Students' Source Book,
1962, pp. 683, 684. Leo also wrote: "We [the
pope] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty."—Encyclical
Letter, "The Reunion of Christendom," June 20, 1894, quoted in
SDA
Bible Students' Source Book,
p. 684.
The beast offers false gods. (See Matt. 24:26, 27; 2 Cor. 11:14,
15.) Christ, the Lamb, offers the one true God. (See Mark 12:28-
34.)
Jesus was accused of blasphemy because He forgave sins. (See
Luke 5:18-21.) The beast power (Rev. 13:1-10) claims the right to
forgive sins. Canon IX of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) ruled that
the sacramental absolution by the priest is a judicial statement of
forgiveness. (See
SDA Bible Students' Source Book,
1962, p. 214.)
The beast cannot forgive. Christ offers true forgiveness and cleans-
ing (1 John 1:9; Ps. 103:3, 12; Eph. 1:7).
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